Tuesday, March 25, 2008

How do you know if someone is really saved?


 
 "I have read the Bible. I go to church....

I know morally what I am doing is right. If a woman doesn't want to be a mother, she shouldn't have to be."

 "I have no shame in what I do. I enjoy what I do. I'm happy with what I do

and I'm going to do it until somebody makes me stop."

~ James Scott Pendergraft, abortionist and clinic owner

 

Nearly every hour that we witness at Pendergraft's late-term abortion clinic, Orlando Women's Center, we meet professing Christians who are killing babies. Bridget & Lorinda are clinic workers. They attend local churches and say that they are Christians. These women play worship music on their way in to murder the little ones who are made in the image of God. At least two of the abortionists say they believe in God and go to church. "Scotty" Pendergraft said the quote above. One of his hired abortionists, Randy Whitney (who has been killing babies since before abortion was legal), assured me that he was a Christian, explaining; "Patte, the only difference between me and you is that you are a pre-modern Christian and I am a post-modern Christian." We just met a 28 year old 'Christian' mother named Marian who aborted for the eighth time on Valentine's Day. Javier is a well-respected member of a local Pentecostal church raped his 17 year old step-daughter Judith on the living room floor. He was very unhappy when he discovered that his step-daughter had become pregnant from the rape. Javier certainly didn't want his wife to find out so he put a wad of money in young Judith's hands and drove her to the clinic to have a labor-and-delivery abortion at six months. Javier sported a Z88 (Christian radio station) bumper sticker on the tailgate of his truck. 'Leeanne' is another professing Christian. She told me a chilling story of how her pastor provided her with a seaside memorial service after she murdered her baby by abortion. Leeanne described how 'beautiful' the ceremony was. The next time Leeanne became pregnant, with the guidance and support of her pastor and a 'Christian' counselor, she killed that baby by abortion too. A few weeks ago we met a woman named 'Whitney' at the abortion clinic. She lavished praise on her pastor and her church. Whitney had come to kill her baby at 4 months of pregnancy by labor-and-delivery. When three women from her church came to take her away from the killing place, Whitney stubbornly refused to speak with them. She wanted her baby dead. Yesterday I met Theresa. She had come to kill her late-term baby. Theresa explained: "I am a Christian. I know that it is murder. I know that it is wrong. I know that I should not do it". I offered Theresa my personal help in choosing a loving adoptive home for her son or daughter. Theresa said: "I would never give my baby away." Yet, Theresa was willing to give her her poor little infant into the toilet of the clinic ... and she did.

Bridget, Lorinda, Scotty, Randy, Marian, Marian, Javier, Leeanne, Whitney, Theresa. I could go on and on ... but I am certain that you don't have the stomach for it any more than I do.

How can you tell if a person is a true Christian?
Who are His disciples indeed?
 
Is the regenerate person the one who calls Jesus 'Lord, Lord'
"Not everyone who comes to Me saying; 'Lord, Lord!'will enter the kingdom of heaven, ... & I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23)  see also Matthew 25:41 Luke 13:27  Psalm 6:8
 
Is it the one who believes in God always truly saved?
'You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.' James 2:19

One remarkable way that Jesus answered the question of who is a true follower is through the challenge of whether or not their faith endures.
 
"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."
Matthew 10:22
 
"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."
Matthew 24:13     
 
Jesus contrasts those who are true converts with those who DO NOT endure:
" ... and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble." Mark 4:17
 
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
II Tim 4:3
 
Only the people who follow  and obey the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ actually abide in Him and endure to the end. They are His disciples indeed.   
  
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed."
John 8:31  
 
For this reason I endure all things 
II Tim 2:10  
 
Matthew Henry:

2:8-13 Let suffering saints remember, and look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We must not think it strange if the best men meet with the worst treatment; but this is cheering, that the word of God is not bound. Here we see the real and true cause of the apostle's suffering trouble in, or for, the sake of the gospel. If we are dead to this world, its pleasures, profits, and honours, we shall be for ever with Christ in a better world. He is faithful to his threatenings, and faithful to his promises. This truth makes sure the unbeliever's condemnation, and the believer's salvation.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

II Tim 4:5

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

Heb 12:7

Indeed we count them blessed who endure.

James 5:11

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure

I Corinthians 4:12

but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
I Corinthians 9:12
 
for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
II Thess 1:4
 
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ ... If we endure, We shall also reign with [Him]. If we deny [Him], He also will deny us.
II Tim 2:3, 12
His seed also I will make to endure forever, And His throne as the days of heaven ... His seed shall endure forever, And His throne as the sun before Me;
Ps 89:29;36         
 
They will perish, but You will endure;
Ps 102:26
 

Endurance is a gift of God's grace!

... They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

... This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

~ excerpt from Westminster Confession, CHAPTER XVII Of The Perseverance of the Saints

----------
Other scriptural signs to compare & contrast true & false converts
 
 
According to the Bible, who else reveals by their life actions that they are NOT genuine Christians?
 
Those who commit sin, practice sin, live lawlessly, are evil-doers, those who work inquity will be cast into a devil's hell.
 

"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Matthew 7:23

People's New Testament

7:23 I never knew you. I never knew you must be accepted in its deeper signification of recognizing the disciples. Augustine says that for Christ to say, I never knew you, is only another way of saying, You never knew me.

Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. In spite of all their professions they had been evil doers. Their religion expended itself in professions and prayers. Hence, in that day they are commanded to depart. What it is to so depart we may learn from Mt 25:41. It is evident from this passage that many are self-deceived.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:21-29 Christ here shows that it will not be enough to own him for our Master, only in word and tongue. It is necessary to our happiness that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, that we love one another. This is his will, even our sanctification. Let us take heed of resting in outward privileges and doings, lest we deceive ourselves, and perish eternally, as multitudes do, with a lie in our right hand. Let every one that names the name of Christ, depart from all sin. There are others, whose religion rests in bare hearing, and it goes no further; their heads are filled with empty notions. These two sorts of hearers are represented as two builders. This parable teaches us to hear and do the sayings of the Lord Jesus: some may seem hard to flesh and blood, but they must be done. Christ is laid for a foundation, and every thing besides Christ is sand. Some build their hopes upon worldly prosperity; others upon an outward profession of religion. Upon these they venture; but they are all sand, too weak to bear such a fabric as our hopes of heaven. There is a storm coming that will try every man's work. When God takes away the soul, where is the hope of the hypocrite? The house fell in the storm, when the builder had most need of it, and expected it would be a shelter to him. It fell when it was too late to build another. May the Lord make us wise builders for eternity. Then nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. The multitudes were astonished at the wisdom and power of Christ's doctrine. And this sermon, ever so often read over, is always new. Every word proves its Author to be Divine. Let us be more and more decided and earnest, making some one or other of these blessednesses and Christian graces the main subject of our thoughts, even for weeks together. Let us not rest in general and confused desires after them, whereby we grasp at all, but catch nothing.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. And then will I profess unto them-or, openly proclaim-tearing off the mask.

I never knew you-What they claimed-intimacy with Christ-is just what He repudiates, and with a certain scornful dignity. "Our acquaintance was not broken off-there never was any."

depart from me-(Compare Mt 25:41). The connection here gives these words an awful significance. They claimed intimacy with Christ, and in the corresponding passage, Lu 13:26, are represented as having gone out and in with Him on familiar terms. "So much the worse for you," He replies: "I bore with that long enough; but now-begone!"

ye that work iniquity-not "that wrought iniquity"; for they are represented as fresh from the scenes and acts of it as they stand before the Judge. (See on the almost identical, but even more vivid and awful, description of the scene in Lu 13:24-27). That the apostle alludes to these very words in 2Ti 2:19 there can hardly be any doubt-"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

----

God is not impressed with an outward show of religion without a genuine holy life of faith. Ceremony can be form without substance. Clouds without water. Formalism does not please God.

Against formalism:
Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endureiniquity and the sacred meeting.
Is 1:13

 

----

Those who truly love & follow Jesus Christ can and will and do have assurance of their salvation.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation.

I. Although hypocrites, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions: of being in the favor of God and estate of salvation; which hope of theirs shall perish: yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God: which hope shall never make them ashamed.

II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probably persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.

----
 
What will happen to those who refuse and resist the call to repentance from sin & faith toward Jesus Christ?
                         
                                  
See what comes of refusing the gospel.
Those who will not hear the messengers of peace, shall be made to hear the messengers of war...
When we look forward to the eternity of misery that is before the obstinate refusers of Christ and his gospel, we may truly say,
The greatest earthly judgments are but the beginning of sorrows.
 
~ Matthew Henry
 
 
Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries
Remember Baby Rowan
 


The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood

"These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19).

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). 

The whole world is polluted, drenched with innocent blood. How are people with blood on their hands to be punished? How can evil be overcome?

In 2001 on September 11th terrorist suicide bombers flew hijacked passenger planes into buildings in New York City and Washington DC killing more than three-thousand people (2657 at the World Trade Center, 266 on the four planes and 125 at the Pentagon).

The world was rightly horrified by this atrocity.

God hates hands that shed innocent blood, and He shows no partiality.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).

Much innocent blood is shed that brings no tears, that is never reported in the newspapers.

Every day in US hospitals an average of 3560 innocent children die at the hands of hired killers. During 2000 one million three-hundred thousand children were killed in this way. In each case they were taken by their own mothers to be killed. They call it abortion.

In other words, a terrorist attack equivalent to what was done on September 11th, 2001 would have to be carried out every day, week in week out, year in year out, to kill as many innocent people as are killed routinely in US hospitals by abortion.

From 1973 (when abortion was legalized in the US) until the end of 2001, more than forty million babies were killed in the US. World-wide, about forty million babies are exterminated by abortion each year.

Where are the tears? Where is the outrage? Where is the media coverage?

What blood could be more innocent than the blood of an unborn child? What crime could be more heinous than a mother killing her own child, unless it is a doctor who gets money for killing babies?

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). 

God is keeping track of each precious one. He takes each child that was rejected and killed by its mother into His loving arms. And He will see that justice is done.

How are people with blood on their hands punished?

God will punish them on the day of judgment unless they repent, and He uses governments to punish them now and to punish one another.

He brought destruction on His people Israel because they sacrificed their children to idols. "They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood" (Psalm 106:37,38).

God used Nebachadnezzar, whom He called 'my servant' to punish Israel for her sins (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; 43:10). But Babylon was so violent and evil herself that she was later punished as well (Jeremiah 25:12; 50:18).

People who shed innocent blood separate themselves from God.

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. They hatch vipers' eggs and weave the spider's web; he who eats of their eggs dies, and from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. Their webs will not become garments, nor will they cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace" (Isaiah 59:2-8). 

People with blood on their hands, and countries that are polluted with the blood of innocents, need not expect help from God. "When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15). 

We must repent and choose good rather than evil. Only then will we survive the judgments that are coming upon the world. "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil" (Deuteronomy 30:14,15). 

All people will stand before the judgment seat of God to give account for what they have done.

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28,29). 

God will punish those who perpetrate atrocities. "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14). 

Governments have been appointed by God as ministers of wrath to punish evil-doers: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil" (Romans 13:1-4). 

The governing authorities have been appointed as God's ministers, avengers, to execute wrath on those who practice evil. Christians should submit to their governments up to the point where they are told to do something that is contrary to the revealed will of God. Then what Peter told the Jewish rulers applies: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

How can evil be overcome?

This is the special task of Christians. Evil must be punished, yes. God turns evil against evil to punish evil. But overcoming evil,conquering evil can only be accomplished by good. It can only be accomplished by the blood of Christ that atones for the sins of the world (John 1:29).

Christians are not ministers of God's wrath, as are governments. Christians are ministers of reconciliation: "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:18- 20).

We do not interfere with the government as God's minister of wrath to punish evil-doers. But neither do we participate in that task because we have a more exalted commission. We are a special task force, not to punish evil, but to conquer evil. We have been appointed as God's ministers of reconciliation. We are commanded: "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17-21). "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:44,45). "See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all" (1 Thessalonians 5:15). "Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).

As commissioners of God, we call men to turn away from evil and to do good.

"Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth" (Psalm 34:12-16). 

"Do they not go astray who devise evil? but mercy and truth belong to those who devise good" (Proverbs 14:22). 

"Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore" (Psalm 37:27). 

"He who diligently seeks good finds favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil" (Proverbs 11:27).

The whole world is polluted, drenched with innocent blood. God will punish evil on the day of judgment, and He uses governments to punish evil now. Christians are God's special task force to conquer evil, calling men to repentance and overcoming evil with good.

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For 'He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil''' (1 Peter 3:8-12). 

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God" (3 John 11). 

Roy Davison

 

Monday, March 17, 2008



Hey, it's St Patrick's Day!
Make the highest & best use of this holiday by sharing some great information with the lost
about how God used St Patrick to influence the course of HIStory. Go to World Net Daily and read this GREAT article by Bill Federer:
 

Saturday, March 15, 2008



photo



Carney O'Donnell, six weeks old when this photo was taken, is held by his mother, Cindy. 
 
His parents chose the name Carney because it means "victorious fighter" in a combination of Irish and Scottish.


"Our little victorious fighter," Kyle O'Donnell said. "He lived up to his name."
 
Overcoming great odds, this darling boy is an inspiration for us to keep fighting for our dear babies!
 
 
 
Let us all remember Baby Rowan!
 
 
Together for Life & Eternity,
Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries